Love in its essence extends to serve beyond any reservation and thus attracts the Lord’s attention.

By Ashutosh Kumar

“Love, in its various forms and expressions, is undeniably sweet and stimulating. It touches our day-to-day lives with tenderness and warmth—be it the affection shared between friends, the unconditional care of a mother for her child, or the intimate connection between partners. Love’s presence awakens us, offering moments of joy and meaning.

Yet even the deepest love is limited in its scope. In some instances, the best we can offer is a heartfelt prayer for those we hold dear. More often, our social exchanges of love become tangled in the web of demands, expectations, and misunderstandings. How could it not be so? As imperfect beings, our love is shaped by our flaws and limitations. Our ways of expressing love are often clumsy, incomplete, or misunderstood. Such gaps lead to feelings of ghosting or unfulfilled longings—proof of love’s fragility when rooted solely in the human condition.

But does love have to remain this way? Is it possible to renew, enhance, or fulfill our capacity to love? The answer lies in transcending these limitations by grounding our love in selflessness and spiritual understanding. As African theologian Augustine puts it, “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.” When love is guided by higher principles, it transforms from a fleeting emotion into a source of lasting fulfillment.

To truly enhance our love, we must first deepen our connection with the divine and allow that divine love to shape our relationships. As Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the great theologian and social reformer of nineteenth century, aptly says, “The perfection of love lies in service to the Supreme, through which all relationships find their ultimate sweetness and meaning. By turning inward and upward, love can indeed become eternal and boundless, unshaken by the flaws of our mortal nature.”

Expressing love amidst limitations

Given the inherent limitations of worldly expressions of love, it is vital to reflect on ways to transcend these imperfections and align our love with a higher, selfless purpose. From the sacred history of Tirupati, we find a moving example that illuminates this path. While residing in holy town of Sri Raìgam, about 150 kilometers from Tirupati, the revered saint Ramanujacarya received a divine vision. He envisioned that Lord Krishna (who will be later worshipped in Tiruapti as Balaji in majestic opulence) should be offered a daily garland of fresh flowers as an act of devotion.

However, the task presented challenges. There were hardly any disciples on the hilltop, and Ramanujacarya himself was deeply committed to his service in Sri Rangam. Undeterred, he shared his vision with his few disciples. Among them, Ananta Alvar and his wife immediately and joyfully offered to take on the sacred duty, seeing it as an opportunity to express their unwavering devotion.

With the blessings of their guru, the couple set forth boarding the cart. They embarked on the journey through the dusty track upwards and onwards towards their calling—the calling of loving devotional service. Their journey reminds us that love centered on Lord transcends all barriers and transforms into an eternal source of joy and spiritual enrichment.

The chemistry of love is such that one cannot stop thinking about their beloved, even for a moment. In the context of lasting relationships, this chemistry grows as it expands through a voluntary desire to serve. Such was the case with Ananta Alvar and his wife, who eagerly began their service to Lord Balaji. Their task was to dig a well to water the flower garden used for the daily worship of the Lord. Alvar shoveled and his wife discarded the heaps of sand to a distant place. But there was a physical limitation worth noting. Alvar’s wife was pregnant. Such physical service did tire her, yet she continued with a smile of contentment and deep love she had for Lord Balaji.

Sweetness trumps greatness

The sweet loving spirit of the couple finally compelled the Lord to descend. Lord Balaji appeared as a young boy to help the couple. However, Anant Alvar who always desired the darshan of the Lord—not recognizing the Lord in the form of a boy—straightly declined!

How sweet is the exchange of love between the Lord and the devotees! Where else can we witness such beautiful interaction, where devotion of devotees overpowers the supremacy of the Lord? Fortunate indeed are those devotees whose pure heart, free from all traces of material contamination, attract the grace of the Lord. The Supreme lord, who is independent and beyond grasp of greatest ascetics, willingly surrenders His independence to the simple-hearted, selfless love of his devotees.

In the hymns, glorifying the magnanimity of devotees, Bhaktivinoda Thakura sings, tomara hridoye sada govinda-vishrama: “Your heart is always the resting place of Lord Govinda.” Bhaktivinoda Thakura beautifully highlights the non-demanding nature of a true devotee, whose selfless heart becomes the Lord’s resting place. This metaphor serves as a stark reminder to our ever-seeking, yet never-contented, mindset—an obstacle on the path of devotion. Perhaps it is time we approach our spiritual journey with sobriety.

Devotion thrives in the realm of abundance, where endless possibilities unfold if we are willing to step out of our comfort zones and extend a serving hand in the Lord’s service. Alone and helpless, externally it might seem Anata Alvar and his wife were serving to their fullest capacity without seeking, let alone accepting any assistance. This self-reliance reflects the abundance of devotion in their hearts, born out of gratitude for the privilege of serving the Lord. Such an abundance mindset in devotional service draws the Lord Himself, who becomes indebted to the sentiments of His devotees rather than the service itself.

Instances such as Lord Rama accepting the partly-tasted fruits from Sabari, or taking the banana peels from the devoted Vidurani, or relishing chipped rice offered by Sudama illustrate that the Lord is moved not merely by service but by the sweet feelings of devotion (imbued in that service). Hence, He is famously glorified as bhava-grahi janardana — the Lord who accepts the essence of love and devotion.

Bhakti brings LIla-sthali onto Seva-sthali

The place where the lord rejoices in association with his devotees is called lila-sthali, while the place where the devotes render service is called seva-sthali. There is a sweet convergence here: in lila-sthali, the Lord welcomes His devotees to offer His Love, whereas in seva-sthali the devotees welcome the Lord to accept their devotion. Thus, bhakti brings lila-sthali onto seva-sthali. Through their selfless service, devotees hold the potential to manifest lila-sthali —the divine abode—within their seva-sthali, transforming the material land into a portal that connects to the spiritual world.

Ananta Alvar and his wife, with their devotion and humility, manifested ila-sthali in their seva-shali despite having scarce resources. Such was the magnetism of their devotion that the Lord could not resist descending again to assist them. This time, He approached Alvar’s wife from a distance (to avoid her husband’s ire) and humbly pleaded with her to allow him to assist by carrying forward the heap of sand.

Charmed by the boy’s divine sweetness and humility, she could not refuse. However, Alvar noticed that his wife was returning much faster than before, which piqued his suspicion. Deciding to spy on her, he secretly followed her. To his astonishment, he discovered that the young boy was helping her. Determined to rebuke the boy gently, Alvar tried to catch hold of Him.

Allowing the Lord into our heart to our lives

Playing the role of a young boy, the Lord, whom fear personified fears, tries to run away from Alvar’s anger! Finding it hard to catch up with His speed, Alvar reflexively and unthinkingly hurled his crowbar in a desperate attempt to stop Him.

The Lord, elusive even to yogis and jnanis, chose to be touched by the unreserved, simple-hearted affection of Ananta Alvar. As an act of divine play, Lord Balaji allowed the crowbar to strike His chin before vanishing from the spot.

Much to their dismay, Alvar and his wife stood in disbelief. They could not comprehend what had just occurred, nor could Alvar grasp the enormity of his reflexive act of throwing the crowbar at the young boy.

No wonder, when Lord desires to reveal his presence, he acts and works through his devotees in ways that surpass human cognition. Perhaps it is in this spontaneity of the Lord’s actions that the pure devotional aspirations of the devotees are brought to light.

Resuming the ongoing incident: In the noon, as the priests opened the temple door at Tirumala, to their utter dismay they found beads of blood dripping from the chin of Lord Balaji. The scriptures mention the lord as akaya, one without material body. But how could blood drip from the deity?

Behind such instances, the Lord has a purpose to break the bounds of logic and prove His actual presence as non-identical from the deity and His intimate relationship with His devotees. Blood symbolizes love, attachment and sacrifice. The dripping of blood, from the deity was indicative of Lord Balaji’s willingness to bear the pain of His devotee’s struggles while they serve Him in the material world. It was a profound expression of His boundless compassion.

The news of this divine event spread quickly from the temple to the village. Alvar, puzzled and disoriented, began to connect the dots. He realized that the young boy who had come to assist him—and then vanished—was none other than the Supreme Lord Himself.

Overwhelmed by the realization, Alvar was struck with grief and remorse. Feeling immense anguish for having caused harm to his beloved Lord, torrents of tears flowed from his reddened eyes. His heart ached as he contemplated the pain he had unintentionally inflicted. Determined to atone for his mistake, Alvar quickly composed himself and sought inspiration from the divine.

Guided by divine intelligence, Alvar prepared a paste of five camphors, famously known as pancha-karpuram, and approached the temple. Reverently, he applied the paste to the Lord’s chin. Miraculously, the injury was instantly healed. To this day, the mark on the chin of Lord Balaji remains as a beauty mark, symbolizing the Lord’s unconditional love and commitment to His surrendered devotees.

Bound by Devotion, Blessed by Grace

The story of Ananta Alvar beautifully demonstrates how devotion not only deepens our connection with the divine but also transforms and enriches human relationships. Ananta Alvar’s unwavering service to Lord Balaji was magnified by the steadfast support of his wife, whose shared devotion created harmony and elevated their bond beyond the usual imperfections of human affection. Together, they exemplified a profound truth: love that is centered on a higher purpose becomes selfless, enduring, and transcendent, even in the face of life’s challenges.

The mark on the Lord’s chin, borne from His divine interaction with Ananta Alvar, stands as a timeless testament to His unyielding commitment to His devotees. Likewise, Ananta Alvar’s life reminds us that devotion purifies and strengthens love in all its forms. When love flows from genuine devotion, it deepens our bond with the divine and infuses our relationships with inspiration, cooperation and devotion.